Post-Draft Outlook:A closer look at the Redskins' picks: Round 7/229 -- Erik Cook, C, 6-6, 318, New Mexico: Cook is a bit big for a center, but he'll begin practicing there with the option of playing guard. - by The Sports Xchange

Erik Cook/New Mexico football Videos

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Overview

Few centers in college football win the Most Valuable Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player awards for their team to go along with Most Valuable Lineman. In part, that speaks to the lack of playmakers on the 1-11 Lobos' offense in 2009, but Cook's strength and leadership should not be overlooked.

A three-year starter, Cook lined up at left tackle nine times and left guard once on opening series as a redshirt sophomore before taking over at center the past two seasons. He garnered first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2009 by allowing one sack and drawing one penalty all season.

His brother, Ryan, was a second-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings who moved from center to right tackle at the next level, starting for two years before losing his job to fellow second-round pick Phil Loadholt last season. Erik won't be drafted as high as Ryan because of his lack of elite quickness, but may make a similar move to guard or tackle as a versatile reserve because of his size.

Analysis

Pass blocking: Athletic and flexible for his size. Able to move his feet inside against quick tackles, and also to roll out with quarterback in moving pocket. Shows some nastiness and plays through the whistle when mauling inside. Good pop when trying to push his defender away from quick screen. Accurate shotgun snap, getting his head up to see and hit his man. When doubling a tackle, keeps head on a swivel to stay aware of twists and late blitzers. Gives good effort to chase down defenders making tracks toward his quarterback scrambling out of the pocket. Height can be a detriment inside, but his anchor is usually strong. Must get a bit higher on his man's leg to ensure his cut block is effective.

Run blocking: Quick enough to snap and get his hands on his man's jersey to turn him, take him down the line or just wall him off. Knows the angle he needs to take on the MIKE to keep him from the play. Will lunge when playing too tall out of his stance, allowing a nose-up defender to swim past him. Also gets his pads too high as a drive blocker, though he keeps his legs moving to push the pile.

Pulling/trapping: Doesn't have the foot speed to pull consistently. Gets a hand on players coming from inside, but doesn't move quickly enough to square up against them. Gets tripped up in trash so trapping may prove difficult.

Initial Quickness: Generally gets off the snap well whether quarterback is under center or in shotgun formation. Most starting NFL tackles, however, will out-quick him initially whether lined up at the zero or one techniques. Would be better off playing guard or tackle, where he's not worried about the snap.

Downfield: A bit slow to get his weight moving forward, but does manage to reach and negate linebackers, even after blocking down. Sustains by latching on and keeping his feet active, but may have trouble adjusting to quicker NFL defenders. Hustles to get 20-25 yards downfield on screen passes or reverses. Linebackers can disengage with a strong punch to the chest, as Cook takes time to get his hands up when on the move.

Intangibles: Intelligent player who makes line calls. Coaches and teammates call him a leader by words and example on the field, in the weight room and in the locker room.

Career Notes

One of the premier offensive linemen in the Mountain West Conference and leader of the Lobos' outstanding offensive line group, dubbed The Hitmen...2009 All-America and Rimington Trophy (best center) candidate...also generating early buzz as one of the Lobos' top prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft...CollegeFootballNews.com rates him as the Lobos' best player on either side of the ball...developed into a real leader up front last year, especially after starting QB Donovan Porterie suffered a season-ending injury in week 4...made all the line calls and blitz adjustments for the offense after Porterie was lost...an excellent athlete who can play any position on the line...manned the starting left tackle spot in 2007 and was extremely valuable as the top backup at every position up front...saw game action at tackle, guard, and center in `07 and played four of the five OL spots in a single game (vs. Sacramento State).

Considers his natural position to be center where he took over for `07 first team all-MWC honoree Vince Natali...27 career games with 21 starts (11 at C, 9 at OT, 1 at OG)...broke his right wrist during the final week of training camp in 2007 and taught himself to snap with his left hand the rest of the season when he played center...split time with an injured Natali late in the 2006 season...has made tremendous progress on the field and in the weight room over the past two years...max of 348 in the power clean and 500 in the squat...younger brother of former Lobo center Ryan Cook, a three-time first team all-MWC selection (2003-05) and second round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the `06 NFL Draft...a two-year starter at right tackle, Ryan cleared the way for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson in `07.

2009 Season

Selected All-Mountain West Conference First Team in 2009 as voted on by the Mountain West coaches and select media panel. Cook, a second team all-MWC pick last year who was the lone Lobo on the preseason all-MWC team (media-only vote), capped his outstanding career by giving New Mexico a first team all-MWC center for the fifth time in the last seven years. Cook's older brother Ryan earned three straight awards from 2003-05, while Vince Natali was honored in 2007. Erik Cook (Albuquerque Cibola HS) played every snap in all 12 games this fall, finishing the season with 88 knockdown blocks, including 49 over the final five games. He allowed just one sack in 470 passing attempts - the most in the MWC - and had just one penalty in 836 plays this year. Cook had flawless technique on at least 80 percent of his snaps in 10 games.

2008 Season

Leader of one of the premier offensive line groups in the MWC this fall which cleared the way for the nation’s 16th-ranked rushing offense…2nd team all-MWC selection and his teammates’ choice for most Oustanding Offensive Lineman - the first center to win the award since his brother Ryan in 2005…posted team-high performance grades in 7 games…started the first 7 games before missing week 8 vs. San Diego State with an illness…it snapped a 17-game consecutive starts streak (10 at tackle in ‘07)…7 games with an overall grade over 80% and flawless technique on at least 60% of his snaps in 8 games…105 knockdown blocks (9.5 avg.) on the year and led the team with double-digit knockdown totals in 8 games…just 2 sacks allowed in 274 pass attempts…went 116 pass plays before allowing his first sack in week 5…only flagged for 3 penalties (752 plays), including 6 penalty-free games to open the season…was at his best against the MWC’s top defenses, averaging 10.5 knockdowns and an 81% performance grade, not allowing any sacks or committing any penalties in 4 games against TCU, Utah, Air Force and Wyoming…Season Highs: 14 KD blocks (vs. Wyoming), 87% performance grade (twice), 99% assignment grade (vs. Wyoming), 83% technique grade (vs. Utah), 89% effort grade (at UNLV). ‘08 HIGHLIGHTS: (vs. No. 9 Utah)…Tremendous bounce-back game, finishing with a career-high 87% performance grade against one of the nation’s premier defenses…flawless technique on a career-best 83% of his 64 snaps and full effort on 83% of his plays as well…added 5 KD blocks and had 0 penalties or sacks allowed…(vs. Wyoming)…Turned in perhaps the finest game of his career to lead another dominant performance in the trenches…tallied a career-high 14 KD blocks and improved his career-high performance grade for the second straight week, finishing with an 87% mark…missed just one assignment (73 plays) for a career-high 99% assignment grade and smashed his previous best by blocking with perfect technique on 82% of his snaps…no penatlies or pressure on the QB, while clearing the way for the Lobos’ 317 rushing yards…(at New Mexico State)… Led a dominant physical performance by The Hitmen, who paved the way for the Lobos’ 297 rushing yards (63 attempts)…13 knockdowns along with an 84% performance grade…also executed his block with perfect technique on 69% of his 86 snaps and had a 98% assignment grade…tied for team honors with a 86% effort mark…(vs. Arizona)…80% performance grade, including flawless technique on 65% of his snaps and an 81% effort grade…5 KDs with no penalties or QB pressure allowed…led the way on Rodney Ferguson’s 25-yard TD run to open the 2nd half…(vs. Texas A&M)…Solid performance against a massive defensive front…led the team with an 83% performance grade, including a 68% technique grade…10 KD blocks with no penalties or pressure on the QB in 80 snaps…walled off a pair of Aggie defenders to spring Rodney Ferguson’s 45-yard TD run…helped the Lobos’ pile up 216 rushing yards with just 1 sack allowed…(vs. TCU)…Team-high 77% performance grade and 12 KD blocks in his first collegiate start at center…no penalties and didn’t allow any sacks against one of the nation’s premier defenses.

2007 Season

Played in 12 games, starting the final 9…8 starts protecting QB Donovan Porterie’s blind side at left tackle and a spot start at left guard in place of injured Anthony Kilby…did a nice job with his assignment knowledge throughout the season…his first career start came at right tackle vs. Sacramento State…saw significant action in the final 11 games playing four different spots on the offensive line…35 knockdown blocks. ‘07 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. Nevada (New Mexico Bowl)…Solid performance in his first posteason start…posted a season-high 81% performance grade, including a 98% assignment mark and 89% effort grade…missed just 2 assignments and had no penalties in 80 snaps to help the Lobos pile up 548 yards of total offense…vs. UNLV…Showed good improvement in the regular season finale, posting a season-high 6 knockdowns to help the Lobos’ put up 381 yards of total offense, including 171 on the ground…missed just 2 assignments, didn’t allow any sacks and had no penalties in 75 snaps…vs. Air Force…Made his first start at left guard in place of injured Anthony Kilby, but also played 3 snaps at left tackle…73% performance grade and 4 KD blocks in 78 snaps…helped Rodney Ferguson pound out 146 yards on 41 carries and did not allow any sacks…vs. BYU…Started at left tackle in place of Sylvester Hatten and turned in a solid effort against a big, powerful front 7...finished with 5 knockdowns, a 94% assignment grade and didn’t allow any pressure on the QB...vs. Sacramento State...Made his first career start in place of Devin Clark at RT, but played 4 positions over the course of the game...came in to play LT briefly for injured Sylvester Hatten, then subbed in at RG for Bart Miller and eventually finished the game at C with the No. 2 offense...tallied 3 KD blocks and a 98% assignment grade in 43 snaps, helping the offense put up 499 yards and 58 points...at Arizona...Rotated in for Bart Miller at right guard in the first half, but moved to left tackle in the 3rd quarter when Sylvester Hatten went down with an injury...finished with 3 knockdowns and an overall performance grade of 76% in 51 snaps...was assignment sound on 96% of his plays and did not allow any sacks.

2006 Season

Appeared in 3 games, sharing time with Vince Natali late in the season...came on to start the second half in his collegiate debut vs. TCU (36 snaps)...tallied two pins to help TB Rodney Ferguson pound out 65 rushing yards on 13 carries in the final two quarters against the nation's No. 4 rushing defense...got downfield to clear the way for Ferguson's 26-yard gain on a screen play that led to a Lobo TD...also saw second half action in the final two games vs. San Diego State (13 snaps) and against San Jose State in the New Mexico Bowl.

2005 Season

Redshirted.

High School

A 2005 graduate of Albuquerque Cibola HS...two-year starter at offensive tackle for head coach Ben Shultz...second team all-district and all-metro as a senior...also the Cougars' deep snapper for kicks...lettered in wrestling and track (shot put, discus, javelin) as well...class 5A runner-up in the javelin and third in the discus as a senior.

Personal

Born July 5, 1987, in Albuquerque...age is 20...full name is Erik Marvin Cook...son of Rick and Vicki...major is University Studies. brother of former Lobo center Ryan Cook, a three-time first team all-MWC selection (2003-05) who was a second round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the `06 NFL Draft.